ES2198272T3 - UNIT FOR THE FEEDING OF LABELS TO AN ELABORATING MACHINE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Unit for feeding labels to a processing machine, comprising at least one fixed and main tank or hopper (6) containing a stack (9) of labels (5), from which the labels (5) are taken individually and are transferred to the operating stations of the processing machine (2); a first auxiliary tank (17; 17; 64) provided with a plurality of compartments (25) each in order to contain a respective stack (19) of labels (5); and first drive means (38; 38; 73) by which the first auxiliary tank (17; 17; 64) can be set in motion so as to successively locate each compartment (25) in a station (T) where the labels (5) are transferred from the individual compartment (25) to the main tank (6), support means (18; 60; 72) on which the first auxiliary tank (17; 17; 64) is removably placed, characterized in that the unit comprises a second auxiliary tank (17) removably placed on the support means (60) and second drive means (62) actuated in such a way as to successively locate each auxiliary tank (17) in a filling station (R) of the main tank (6).

Description

Unit for feeding labels to one processing machine

The present invention relates to a unit for feeding labels to a processing machine with characteristics expressed in the preamble of the claim one.

In particular, the present invention relates to a unit by which labels are supplied intended for serve as stamps indicating the application of a tax manufacturing, or tax stamps, to a packaging machine cigarettes or similar products; throughout the next description explicit reference will be made to such a machine without restricting the scope of the invention.

In the case of packaging machines cigarettes, labels that serve as tax stamps they usually accumulate so as to form a stack within a deposit that is presented as a substantially fixed column vertical, or hopper.

Generally speaking, labels fall by gravity through a lower outlet of the hopper, from where they are taken individually and transferred to the stations Packaging machine operations.

The nature of the devices through which labels are taken is such that the pressure exerted on the bottom label of the accumulated battery must be maintained within certain limits to ensure there are no difficulties to extract the same lower label from the outlet of the hopper, a task generally carried out by means of aspiring sectors. This imposes restrictions with respect to hopper height, which therefore has a capacity of relatively limited storage and therefore you have to fill it frequently with stacks of labels formed with anteriority.

The higher the operating speed of the packaging machine, the more frequent must be carried out filling operations, and consequently, in packers high speed the task of filling the hopper is carried out automatically. In particular, US invention patents 3,929,326, DE 19,730,307 as well as EP 1,060,993 publish a method of automatic filling of the hopper with stacks of formed labels previously supplied by an auxiliary tank of one relatively large capacity.

The invention patent US 3,929,326 publishes a auxiliary tank composed of a rotating drum around a vertical axis and provided with a plurality of compartments longitudinal around its periphery, each projected to contain a respective stack of labels previously formed; the drum is supported by a plate located above the hopper and is intermittently driven so as to put each consecutive compartment aligned with the hopper, occupying a station in which the labels are transferred from the hopper compartment.

According to the mentioned invention patent US 3,929,326 the drum is manually filled in by a operator while the machine is running, which introduces stacks of labels previously formed in the compartments during drum rotation interruptions.

Given the relatively large capacity of the drum, the operator can perform the aforementioned task of fill the compartments less frequently than the one that it would be necessary in the case where the hopper had to be filled directly. However, the task of filling in individual compartments while the machine is running during interruptions of drum rotation becomes difficult, and dangerous, due both to the limited accessibility to compartments as at the high operating speeds of the modern packaging machines, since the interruptions are of an extremely short duration. In fact, the shorter it is The duration of interruptions will obviously be shorter. time that the operator will have at his disposal to introduce correctly the stacks of labels previously formed in the various compartments and the greater the difficulty encountered by the operator to synchronize the action carried out within the compartments with the frequent stages imposed by the drum.

Also, the least amount of batteries labels that the operator is able to enter during each interruption leads to a higher frequency of operations of filling necessary so that the feeding unit is not left empty and in this way generating an unwanted stop of all the packaging machine

Also document DE 19.730.307 publishes a auxiliary tank composed of a rotating drum around a vertical axis and provided with a plurality of compartments longitudinal around its periphery, each projected to contain a respective stack of previously formed tags very similar to the auxiliary deposit published in the US 3,929,326, while EP 1,060,993 publishes an auxiliary deposit comprising a frame on the which compartments are distributed along a rectilinear path to sequentially feed each stack of labels to a main deposit. Anyway, through these documents do not solve the problems cited with anteriority.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a unit for feeding labels to a processing machine, which does not present the inconveniences mentioned above.

The stated objective is achieved through a unit with the characteristics expressed in the characterization portion of claim 1.

Now the invention will be described in details, to exemplifying title, with the help of the attached drawings, in the which:

- Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the label feeding unit according to the present invention, schematically and in perspective view and with some parts omitted for reasons of clarity;

- Figure 2 is a more detailed illustration showing a first part of figure 1, seen in perspective;

- Figure 3 is an amplified illustration that shows a second part of figure 1, perspective view;

- Figures 4, 5 and 6 are respective views in label feed unit plant illustrated in the Figure 1, shown with some sectioned parts and some parts omitted for reasons of clarity;

- Figure 7 illustrates a variant embodiment of the label feeding unit of figure 1, view schematically in lateral elevation and with some parts omitted For reasons of clarity.

With reference to figure 1 of the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes, as a whole, a portion of a machine packing machine (2) (not illustrated) to produce packages of cigarettes

The portion (1) of the machine comprises a base (3) that supports a feed unit (4) of labels (5) of rectangular shape, each to apply in a conventional manner (no illustrated) to a respective pack of cigarettes (not illustrated) and It works like a fiscal stamp or stamps.

The unit (4) comprises a deposit of fixed and main column feed, or hopper (6), which is associated with the base (3) through a flat mounting plate (7) arranged vertically, aligned on an axis (8) predominantly vertical and designed to hold a stack (9) of labels (5) also aligned on the same axis (8).

The hopper (6) has a flat back wall (10) arranged parallel to the axis (8) and fixed parallel to the plate (7), two flat side walls (11) extending at angles straight with respect to the back wall (10) and also parallel to the shaft (8), and two flat front walls (12) that extend in right angles with respect to the respective side walls (11) towards each other, parallel to the back wall (10), and delimiting a longitudinal opening (13) through which You can access the inside of the hopper (6).

Those same walls (10, 11 and 12) are combined to create an outlet (14) at the lower end and a mouth input (15) at the upper end, whereby the labels (5) are admitted and dispensed respectively.

The outlet (14) is located directly above a socket (16) equipped with aspirating sectors Conventional (not illustrated), whereby the labels (5) they are taken individually from the outlet (14) and are transferred individually and in succession, in a conventional manner and not illustrated, to the operating stations (not illustrated) of the packing machine (2), while the inlet mouth (15) It is located directly below an auxiliary tank (17) from which fills the hopper (6).

The auxiliary tank (17), which in figure 1 is schematically illustrated with dashed lines, offers a relatively large storage capacity with respect to the hopper (6) and is made, considered as a whole, as a interchangeable feed unit cartridge (4).

The tank (17) is supported on the base (3) through a flat plate (18) arranged horizontally that move at a right angle to the vertical plate (7) on the side opposite to the hopper (6). In particular, the tank (17) can be extracted from the plate (18), and drive so as to allow the batteries (19) of previously formed labels (5) are fed inside the hopper (6) automatically along the direction of the respective axis (8) in a transfer station (T) in correspondence of the entrance mouth (15).

As can be discerned from the Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6, the tank (17) comprises a frame type drum (20) of hollow embodiment, constructed from a low specific gravity material The frame (20), in this way, It is shown as an external delimited housing bell and internally by respective walls (21 and 22) substantially cylindrical, and by a cover (23) at the top.

The outer wall (21) extends around a axis (24) substantially of symmetry on which the frame (20), and has a plurality of compartments longitudinal (25) with respective central axes (26) arranged parallel to the axis (24) of the frame and at the same distance at along a closed circular path (P) centered on it shaft (24).

Each compartment (25) serves to accommodate a respective stack (19) of labels (5) formed previously aligned on the corresponding axis (26), and exhibits a structure totally similar to that of the hopper (6).

More in details, each compartment (25) it has a flat rear wall (27) arranged parallel to the axis (26), two flat side walls (28) that extend at angles straight with respect to the rear wall (27) and parallel to the axis (26), and two flat front walls (29) that extend in right angles with respect to the respective side walls (28) towards each other, parallel to the rear wall (27), and delimiting a longitudinal opening (30) through which You can access the inside of the compartment (25).

Similar to the hopper (6), the walls (27, 28 and 29) of each compartment (25) combine to create a outlet (31) at the lower end and an inlet (32) at the upper end, through which the labels (5) are admitted and dispensed respectively.

Also, the inner wall (22) extends symmetrically around the axis (24) of the frame (20) and combined with the outer wall (21) to establish a plurality of longitudinal parallelepiped cavities (33) presenting a substantially trapezoidal section, each located between two successive compartments (25). The individual cavity (33) presents a rear wall (34), two flat side walls (35) that in part coincide with the side walls (28) of the adjacent compartments (25), and a flat front wall (36) that interconnect the front walls (29) of the compartments adjacent, of which all are arranged parallel to the axis (24). A lower wall is also part of each cavity (33) (37) arranged orthogonally to the axis (24).

The tank (17) is supported by the plate (18) with the bottom walls (37) of the cavities (33) resting on the plate (18) and the central axis (24) parallel to the axis (8) of the hopper (6), and is driven by the shaft (38) (figure 1) of a step actuator (39) to cause the frame (20) to rotate intermittently around the axis (24) in the direction of the arrow (F). For this purpose, the cover (23) of the frame (20) has a central hole (40) through which the entire assembly is coaxially couples to the shaft (38).

The hole (40) is delimited by a peripheral surface (41) having a plurality of grooves (42) designed to engage with respective longitudinal projections (43) of the tree (38) in order to determine  a given angular position of the frame (20), with respect to the shaft (38), in which the compartment (25) occupied by the station transfer (T) is arranged with its axis (26) aligned with the shaft (8) of the hopper (6). In this same alignment position, the walls (27, 28 and 29) of the compartment (25) substantially they are aligned with the respective walls (10, 11 and 12) of the hopper (6), and the outlet (31) of the compartment (25) is adjacent and centered above the inlet mouth (15) of the hopper (6).

Simply put, the grooves (42) and the projections (43) constitute reference means by which the tank (17) can be made to assume a position predetermined with respect to the plate (18).

The tree (38) can be indexed through a step equal to the angular distance with which the compartments (25) around the shaft (24) so that, during operation, individual compartments (25) advance stopping one behind the other aligned with respect to the transfer station (T).

The outlet (31) of each compartment (25) is equipped with a respective shutter device (44) that comprises a retractable barrier element (45) capable of moving between a retracted position in which the outlet (31) is open (figure 6), and an extended position in which the mouth of exit (31) is closed (figures 3, 4 and 5). Positions `` retracted '' and `` extended '' should be understood in relation to a given radial generatrix of the frame (20) and with respect to the axis (24).

Each barrier element (45) consists of a flat plate (46) arranged orthogonally to the walls (27, 28 and 29) of the compartment (25). The plate (46) includes a portion central (47) defining a retractable bottom wall (48) of the compartment (25), and two lateral appendages (49) supported by sliding way down the respective bottom walls (37) of adjacent cavities (33).

The shutter device (44) further comprises springs (50) located one on each side appendage (49). Each spring (50) is sandwiched between the rear wall (34) of the cavity (33) and a lug (51) extending upward from the respective appendix (49) at right angles.

Springs (50), appendices (49), lugs (51) and the rear walls (34) of the cavities (33) combine to establish a tension device (52) such that will keep the respective barrier element (45) elastically in the mentioned extended closing position while the walls rear (34), side walls (35) and walls lower (37) of the cavities (33) and the appendages (49), by a side, and the side walls (35) of the cavities (33) and the lugs (51) on the other hand, operate in conjunction with each other to allow the plate (46) a simple radial movement between the retracted opening position and extended position of closing.

The central portion (47) of each plate (46) is fixed from the remote side from the lugs (51) to a block (53) presenting a channel (54) arranged tangentially to the frame (twenty). In operation, successively each block (53) is coupled via the respective channel (54) with a cursor (55) supported by the plate (18) corresponding to the transfer station (T).

The cursor (55) is activated, moving radially between a retracted position and an extended position, by an actuator (56) which together with said step actuator (39) is connected to a respective output of a controller (57) (Figure 1).

The controller (57) is also connected to the entrance side to a barrier photocell (58) whose beam (L) is located at an appropriate height between the two side walls (11) of the hopper (6).

Now the operation of the unit (4) is describe from a situation in which the deposit (17) has been indexed through an angular step (figure 4) and from this way a compartment (25) is taken to the station transfer (T) with its axis (26) aligned to the axis (8) of the hopper (6) (figure 5). During this same stage, the cursor (55) will be in the extended position and the plate (46) of the compartment (25) will be held in the respective extended closing position through the action of the tension device (52).

After entering the transfer station (T), the channel (54) presented by the block (53) fixed to the plate (46) is linked by the cursor (55), whereby the actuator (56) will be governed by the controller (57) by pulling the cursor (55) to the retracted position (figure 6).

After plate retraction (46) caused by the movement of the cursor (55) against the action of the springs (50), the stack (19) of labels (5) contained in the compartment (25) can fall freely, joining with the stack (9) of labels (5) that are running out inside the hopper (6) to form a single pile.

It should be noted that the movement of the plate (46) from the extended closed position to the retracted position of opening occurs in a relatively short period of time, of way to prevent a disorderly fall of the labels (5) inside of the hopper (6).

As the labels (5) are taken individually using the intake head (16) from the mouth of outlet (14) of the hopper (6), the height of the stack within the hopper (6) gradually goes down to descend below the beam (L) of the photocell (58). Once such condition is recognized, the controller (57) causes cursor (55) to return to position normally extended and causes the indexed advance of the deposit (17).

The operating steps of the unit (4) described so far they will be repeated cyclically until everything is exhausted the supply of labels (5) present in the tank (17).

Once empty, an operator can lift manually deposit (17) and separate it from the tree (38) and the cursor (55), then replace it with a full tank (17) loaded previously in a place distant from the packaging machine (two).

It should be noted that the task of replacing the deposit (17) can be carried out quickly, given the lightweight structure of the hollow frame (20) and the simplicity of the type of coupling with the shaft (38). The task is done during the time interval between the moment immediately following the return of the cursor (55) to its extended position and the moment corresponding to the total emptying of the battery within the hopper (6), prior inhibition of the step actuator (39) by operator. Once the new tank (17) has been put in place, the sequence is restored with cursor retraction (55) and, by therefore, of the plate (46).

The schematic diagram of Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the power unit (4) described so far, denoted in its entirety with the numeral 59.

In this power unit (59), the plate (18) is replaced by a plate or carousel (60) rotating around of an axis (61) parallel to the axis (8) of the hopper (6) and projected to support two removable auxiliary tanks (17) of the type described above with axes (24) that occupy positions diametrically opposite with respect to the main axis (61).

The carousel (60) rotates around the denoted axis by numeral (61) with 180 degree steps, driven by a actuator (62) that can be controlled by an operator so as to locate the two deposits (17) alternately in alignment with a operating station (R) of hopper filling (6), and a station non-operative (C) in which empty deposits are exchanged and full.

The warehouse (17) occupied by the station feed (R) is located with respect to the hopper (6) and works in the same way as the unit (4) described above, while the depot (17) located at the exchange station (C) can be replaced manually by an operator with sum peace of mind while the tank at the filling station (R) is It is emptying.

The operation of the unit (59) can be easily understand from the preceding description and, therefore Therefore, no further explanation is necessary. It should be noted, without However, that the carousel (60) described above could also support more than two removable auxiliary tanks located symmetrically with respect to the main axis (61).

It should be noted that while the various examples described have been elucidated only with a hopper, however the The present invention encompasses any given solution by which it is used the auxiliary tank to supply two or more hoppers, maybe containing respective batteries (19) of different labels.

Claims (14)

1. Unit for feeding labels to a processing machine, comprising at least one fixed and main tank or hopper (6) containing a stack (9) of labels (5), from which the labels (5) are taken individually and are transferred to the operating stations of the processing machine (2); a first auxiliary tank (17; 17; 64) provided with a plurality of compartments (25) each in order to contain a respective stack (19) of labels (5); and first drive means (38; 38; 73) by which the first auxiliary tank (17; 17; 64) can be set in motion so as to successively locate each compartment (25) in a station (T) where the labels (5) are transferred from the individual compartment (25) to the main tank (6), support means (18; 60; 72) on which the first auxiliary tank (17; 17; 64) is removably placed, characterized in that the unit comprises a second auxiliary tank (17) removably placed on the support means (60) and second drive means (62) actuated in such a way as to successively locate each auxiliary tank (17) in a filling station (R) of the main tank (6). Unit according to claim 1, characterized in that each compartment (25) of each auxiliary tank (17; 17; 64) is configured with an outlet end (31) that can be opened through which they can be transferred the respective labels (5) to the main tank (6), and is equipped with a respective sealing device (44) by which the outlet end (31) can be opened and closed. 3. Unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the sealing device (44) comprises a barrier element (45) capable of moving between positions in which the outlet end (31) is open and closed respectively. Unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the sealing device (44) comprises tension means (52) by means of which the barrier element (45) is normally held in the closed position. 5. Unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the tension means (52) comprise elastic means (50). 6. Unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the elastic means (50) comprise at least one spring (50). Unit according to claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the unit also comprises actuator means (55) located in the transfer station (T) for interacting with the shutter devices (44) so as to open and / or close the respective outlet ends (31). Unit according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each auxiliary tank (17) comprises a frame (20) on which the compartments (25) are evenly distributed around a closed path (P). 9. Unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the closed path (P) is a circular path. Unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the frame (20) is rotatable around a first axis (24) through the action of the first drive means (38), and the compartments (25) are aligned on respective stacking axes (26) arranged parallel to the first axis (24) and evenly distributed around the same first axis (24). Unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the frame (20) is presented as a hollow drum externally delimited by a substantially cylindrical periphery (21) around which the compartments (25) are uniformly distributed. 12. Unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the support means (60) are composed of a carousel (60) rotating around a second axis (61) and provided to support at least two auxiliary tanks (17) placed removably and evenly distributed around the second axis (61). 13. Unit according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the auxiliary tank (64) comprises a frame (65) on which the compartments (25) are evenly distributed along a rectilinear path (P ') . 14. Unit according to claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the unit comprises reference means (42, 43; 42, 43; 78, 79) by means of which each auxiliary tank (17; 17; 64) is makes him assume a predetermined position with respect to the support means (18; 60; 72).